Located 85 kilometres away from Salta, travellers can appreciate an extraordinary 127 square kilometers water mirror surrounded by mountains, which is in itself a magnificent engineering work: The Cabra Corral Dam, and artificial reservoir formed by the confluence of the Río Guachipas River, which all the southern rivers coming from the Valles Calchaquíes Valleys flow into, and the Rosario and Arias Rivers coming from the north.

The dam shows a "Y" shape and is known as Cabra Corral (Goat Corral), for it was a company based in the United States which was in charge of the topographical mapping for the future works, and in the files the foreign engineers used to write the name "Cabra Corral", instead of "Corral de Cabras" ("Corral of Goats", which is the proper grammar construction in Spanish).

The complex was built between the years 1966 and 1972 by the Panedille Hnos. Company, of Italian and Argentinean capitals.

It is the second biggest reservoir in Argentina, and the main water reserve for the northeast. Besides offering an ideal place for sports and recreation, Cabra Corral brings irrigation waters to 110 thousand hectares of fertile land in Salta and Santiago del Estero, and integrates the national energy system with the production of hydroelectric energy from its three turbines.

The dam is like a great mountain of earth raising 93 meters high, thus making it earthquake-proof. If it were rigid, like of concrete, it would fracture with the first earth movement. It has a clay nucleus covered with different layers of compacted earth and rocks, with a final one of large rounded river stones at the side of the water mirror, and smaller ones on the side of the Juramento River.

It has a base of over 500 meters crossed by two large tunnels: one for bottom discharges and the other for the hydroelectric complex. The latter displays a counterweight tower 108 metres high.

An additional engineering marvel is the bridge crossing over the narrow Guachipas River, with its pillars supporting pre-tensed beams, which make them flexible in case of a quake. The distance between the tarmac and the river water is big enough to allow the navigation of regular size sailboats.

The Juramento River waters flow into the Paraná River with the name of Salado del Norte, turning it into the longest basin in the country.

HOW TO GET THERE
Through the Ruta Nacional Nº 68 National Route and the Ruta Provincial Nº 47. From Salta to Coronel Moldes there are 62 kilometres; and from there up to Paraje El Préstamo, another 23 kilometres.

WHAT TO DO
Trekking, exploring, mountaineering, scaling, horseback riding, bird watching, photo safaris and agro-tourism, amongst others, can be practiced in the bordering area of reservoir.

And on its waters: sailing, rafting, and sport fishing of atherine, bogas, catfishes and dorados, from the shore or on the dam by renting catamarans.

Cultural activities can be enjoyed starting from the dam as well. Excursions include guided visits to the Cuevas de Ablomé Caves, to watch rock paintings, and hikes by the El Fuerte Mountain.

It has various lodging facilities: from a four star hotel, standing at the edge of the dam, down to a small yet important number of lodging houses, cabins and camping areas, all of them with an excellent gastronomic service.